Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST)

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https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/126537
This department was formerly known as Centre for Complex Systems in Transition

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Browsing Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) by Subject "Climatic changes -- Social aspects"

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    Exploring relationality in African knowledge systems : a contribution to decoloniality in sustainability science
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-12) Carstens, Melanie; Preiser, Rika; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: The contributions put forward by Western sustainability science to solve environmental problems are manifesting their shortcomings. It is therefore essential to explore knowledge systems beyond the predominant modern Western knowledge system established through colonisation. This thesis examines some aspects of relationality in social-ecological systems from the perspective of African Indigenous knowledge systems, as a way to approach the decolonisation of Western sustainability science, to uncover more substantial solutions. The following general enquiry guided this research: By observing the conspicuous relational ties between humans and non-humans seen in some Indigenous African cultures marginalised by Western science, would Western sustainability science not discover more realistic approaches to current global sustainability science offerings? Using a ‘third space’ methodology encouraged the integration of knowledge systems, where no one system dominates the other, and explores ‘not only/but also’ configurations of reality, beyond the ‘either/or’ binary reality of the Western knowledge system. This approach allowed two divergent knowledge systems to engage as equals in one study, to observe the issues at hand through their unique lenses and to find spaces of collaboration – thus reflecting the relationality theme in this thesis. The study consisted of an extensive literature review that employed ‘undisciplinary epistemological agility’ by following trails of information as they presented themselves, which were then carefully pieced together after two rounds of coding. Contrary to the Western knowledge system, context plays an extremely important role in African Indigenous knowledge systems and is defined by a here and now that includes all space and time. In essence, ukama considers all nature as an extension of the self and vice versa. Humans and nature are related and belong together. Looking after nature equates to looking after the self and the community – thus benefitting everyone. Furthermore, ubuntu teaches that all humans are inherently born with dignity. All others (humans and non-humans) should be respected, because while humans are distinct from non-humans, they are not separate. Some features of relationality that were observed include ancestors, land, animism and cosmology. Everything is constantly in a process of becoming, engaging in a relationship of balance which has no finalised state. Western sustainability science therefore needs to unlearn and rethink the knowledge base on which it has constructed its solutions. Diverse knowledge systems serve as dynamic and meaningful allies in reimagining a common sustainable future on Earth. It is therefore vital to eradicate the relational gap between knowledge systems caused by persistent coloniality.